Ultra Cool Gadgets

The DCR-HC48 contains a 1-megapixel CCD for enhanced detail and clarity along with exceptional analog video performance. Capture high-quality video and easily transfer it via Memory Stick Duo media slot on your PC or the included Handycam Station. It’s never been easier to share all your moments.

DCR-HC48 Highlights

- 1-megapixel Advanced HAD CCD imager.
- MiniDV recording.
- 25x optical/2000x digital zoom.
- Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario.
- 2.7-inch widescreen touch-panel Hybrid LCD display.
- One-touch wide-angle shooting.
- Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system.
- Handycam Station.
- InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter system.
- i.LINK DV interface.
- Digital Still Memory Mode with Memory Stick.
- Tele Macro function.
- Manual focus.
- Super NightShot Plus infrared system.

Technical Details:

- 1 MP CCD with Memory Stick Duo media compatibility.
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens; 25x optical zoom, 2000x digital zoom.
- 2.7-inch widescreen touchpanel LCD screen.
- Connects to compatible TV and/or PC via the included Handycam Station.
- NightShot Plus technology and Super SteadyShot picture stabilization system.

Customer Feedback

I am really really impressed with the performace, great video quality (no granulation) & sound too. As some of you are curious, it has infrared light which is great plus point for shooting in night time. In fact, when i tried shooting in dark with the NightShot Plus turned on and i tried to put my hand in front of the infrared light, I could see a patch of light on my hand, i was really thrilled by that, seeing its actually a light coming out of the camera. Of course you probably need to use a tripod to shoot in night light for better stability.

Also, it has various other features/modes that i didn’t notice in canon. for instance, it has a color mode to bring out colors more effectively in low light, a shooting mode to capture minute objects like insects etc..

The high-end, HDR-XR500 120GB High Definition Handycam Camcorder, from Sony packs true 1920 x 1080 HD recording, hybrid capture options, excellent optics, and more into a consumer priced camera. You’ll be hard pressed to run out of recording space with a 120GB HDD that captures nearly 48 hours of HD footage and the option to store additional video and stills to Memory Stick PRO Duo media. Sony gives you the tools to create beautiful memories, whether you’re recording your child’s play or a family vacation. The G Lens and back-illuminated 1/2.88″ ClearVid Exmor R CMOS sensor work together to create clean, brilliant images. Other features, like the generous 3.2″ LCD display, Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization, Face Detection and Smile Shutter give you an added edge.  Hybrid Recording to HDD or Memory Stick Duo Media Record nearly 48 hours of true, 1920 x 1080 HD video and 4MP stills to the 120GB HDD, in the XR500. You can also record to optional Memory Stick PRO Duo media, which offers easy transfer of video and stills to compatible computers and printers. And, in the event that you drop the camera, Sony’s “HDD Smart Protection” prevents recorded video and stills from being lost.  1/2.88″ ClearVid Exmor R CMOS Sensor with Back-Illumination Sony’s 1/2.88″ Exmor R CMOS sensor captures true 1920 x 1080 HD 6MP video and 12.1MP digital stills at 4x the density of HD resolution, giving you cleaner, more detailed images. The back-illuminated sensor improves image quality, especially when shooting in low-light situations by gathering as much light as possible and increasing sensitivity. The BIONZ Image Processor helps reduce noise and provides for faster image processing and data compression.  Sony G Lens Sony’s G lens, designed to work with the Exmor R CMOS sensor, provides sharp, detailed images with ultra accurate color reproduction.

Technical Details:

- 120 GB Hard Disk Drive, record and store up to 48 hours of HD video footage (HD LP mode).
- 12x MegaPixel still image capture.
- 12x Optical Zoom, 1920 x 1080 High-Def resolution.
- 3.2-inch WideScreen, touch-panel Xtra Fine LCD display.

Customer Feedback

Sony’s HDR-XR500 is truly a great handycam! The high definition videos that I get with this camera are awesome! I have uploaded quite a few of them to Youtube and they look great!
But I did have a problem with some of the videos I took. Once in a while, I have a problem with uploading one of my high definition videos to Youtube. What happens is I complete the upload process, but the video has a lot of break-up. But the audio still sounds great.

The uniquely designed DCR-DVD7 DVD Handycam camcorder lets you record movies in style. Circular and compact, the DCR-DVD7 goes anywhere you go to capture digital video onto DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW discs*. Not only can you create your own movies, but as an added feature you can also take digital still pictures.
Despite its compact design, the DCR-DVD7 comes equipped with a full 2.5-inch hybrid touch panel LCD screen and a professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens for capturing vivid, sharp images. Connect quickly and easily with USB 2.0 to a compatible TV or PC for easy viewing and editing of your videos and digital still images.

Features of the Sony DCR-DVD7

- 1/6-Inch Advanced HAD CCD Imager, 680K Pixels Gross.
- 10x Optical/120x Digital Zoom.
- Super SteadyShot Picture-Stabilization System.
- USB 2.0 Interface.
- Professional-Quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens.
- DVD-R- and DVD-RW-Compatible.
- InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System.
- Picture Effects.
- 2.5-Inch Touch Panel LCD Display (123K Pixels).
- Program AE (Auto Exposure) Modes.

Technical Details:

- 1/6-inch CCD imager with 680K pixels.
- Compatible with DVD-R and DVD-RW formats.
- 10x optical zoom with Super SteadyShot picture-stabilization system.
- 2.5-inch hybrid color touch-panel LCD.
- Easy Handycam Button locks out advanced controls; perfect for beginners.

Pros:

The pluses of this camera are that it is small and takes acceptable video. Has a good feel and form factor. The camera has quick and smooth focus. It turns on and is ready to shoot in a very short time even for a DVD based camcorder. All the I/O ports work good (USB and Video-out). It has a nice bright LCD display. It can take literally thousands of digital images. When you finish shooting video, you have a ready-made DVD to show friends and family. You also have a long lasting archive of your images that you can edit later.

Cons:

For me the biggest downside of this camera is that it takes terrible digital still images. The pictures have visible pixels and the color is not as rich as with Sony still cameras. A unit of this price should take at least acceptable still images. Some of the pictures I took with the camera look worse than the old Apple Quick-take cameras of 10 years ago could produce. The camera has no Firewire port. As an Apple computer user, this camera is unfriendly when it comes to editing-no Apple supported software and it is a difficult task to put your video into iMovie for editing. For all these lacking areas it is a bit pricey.

Canon camcorders use the entire width of the image sensor to capture video in true 16:9 format. What difference does this make? It’s simple. With more pixels captured, you get better image quality. Other camcorders force the wider picture into a smaller space on the sensor–giving you a less true image, with fewer pixels and lower quality. With a Canon camcorder, your videos of your travels will let you relive great memories.

In addition, the viewfinder on your Elura 100 will display the image in a letterbox view. From side to side and top to bottom, what you see is what you get. Or, you can view your widescreen shot in the Elura 100′s large, 2.7-inch LCD screen. Either way, there isn’t the guessing or extra work in looking at an image that’s distorted like a funhouse mirror.
The Elura 100′s lens is precisely matched to the camcorder’s CCD and features a unique spectral coating that reduces flare and ghosting. The lens is a powerful 20x optical zoom. Combined with the camcorder’s powerful 800x digital zoom, the Elura 100 gives you an impressive range of focal lengths (3.0-60mm). You always have the perfect lens, whether you’re trying to capture a wide shot of the lake, a group shot at your daughter’s wedding, or a telephoto shot at your child’s recital.

Elura’s highlights

- Image Stabilization.
- Level Shot Control.
- Smooth Zoom Control.
- Mega Video Light.
- Low-Light Performance.
- Stunning Digital Photography.
- 9-Point Ai-AF.
- Motor Drive Mode & Progressive Photo.
- Autoexposure Bracketing.
- Simultaneous Photo Recording.
- Firewire/IEEE 1394 DV Terminal.
- Perfect exposures.
- Motion JPEG Mode.

Technical Details:

- Features true widescreen recording and powerful 20x optical zoom.
- Widescreen 2.7-inch LCD.
- Canon’s Digic DV image processor for exceptional color and clarity.
- Smooth Zoom Control function prevents jerky zooms.
- SD memory card slot for capturing stills.

Customer Feedback

I like my new Elura 100 MiniDV camcorder. It has a lot of options and is within a good price range. In general the quality of the picture is much better on the Elura. This was something I was worried about in switching to the digital format, but the pictures from the Elura have been incredibly crisp and show up well on a large (standard resolution) TV set. The only exception is low light recording, where the RCA seemed to do a little better.
PROS:
- Small size.
- Wide screen format.
- Zoom.
- Lots of manual control.
- Analog video transfer.
- Long battery life.
- Integrates well with Windows XP.
- Comes with a remote control.

CONS:
- No true USB connectivity.
- Mega video light.
- Still pictures are small.
- Low light performance is not so good.